LA 2011: Cadillac XTS

Cadillac is finally showing off the new XTS sedan today at the LA Auto Show.

The XTS takes the place of the DTS and STS sedans to become Cadillac's large sedan. And large it is with a length of 202 in., width of 72.9in., height of 59.1 in., and rides on a wheelbase that is 111.7 in. Cadillac says those measurements help give the XTS 40 in. of rear legroom and a trunk capacity of 18 cubic feet.

Styling is very close to the XTS Platinum concept shown at last years North American International Auto Show.

Step inside the XTS and your greeted with either perforated or supple black leather with french, white stitching. The dash is covered in leather with a handful of accents ranging from a dark wood finish, to a brushed metal to a unique honeycomb-patterned surface.

Also, the XTS gets Cadillac's CUE infotainment system that comes with an 8-inch screen in the center stack, and an available 12.3-inch reconfigurable cluster that offers four driver-selectable themes, ranging from minimal to extensive information.

Under the skin lies GM's 3.6L V-6 DI LFX V6 producing 300 HP and 264 lb-ft of torque. GM's Hydra-Matic 6T70 six-speed automatic transmission with tap-shift control is standard. The XTS is also fitted with GM's Magnetic Ride Control, rear air suspension, HiPer Strut front suspension and Brembo brakes fitted as standard. Optional is a Haldex all-wheel-drive system with an electronic limited-slip differential.

GM says the FWD XTS will get an estimated 17 City/28 Highway while the AWD version will get 17 City/27 Highway.

The XTS will be built at Oshawa, Ontario in spring 2012.

Press Release is on Page 2

2013 Cadillac XTS Introduces a New Formula for Luxury

LOS ANGELES – Cadillac unveiled the 2013 XTS today, the newest addition to the Cadillac luxury sedan lineup. It arrives in showrooms in the spring of 2012 as the most technologically advanced production car in the brand’s history.

Larger than the CTS, the new XTS delivers the space, elegance and dramatic presence that are Cadillac signatures, but with entirely new and technically advanced methods tuned for a new generation of luxury customers. It also marks the debut of CUE, a comprehensive in-vehicle experience that merges intuitive design with auto industry-first controls and commands for information and media data.

In addition to the CUE interface and connectivity, many other advanced technologies are integral to the new XTS. It will be the only luxury sedan with standard Magnetic Ride Control – the world’s fastest-reacting suspension. Advanced technologies that enhance vision are available as well.

Positioned directly above the centerpiece CTS family in Cadillac’s revamped lineup, the new XTS features a 3.6L direct injection engine and advanced all-wheel drive system, marking a shift to more-efficient performance in a spacious luxury sedan.

“The Cadillac XTS represents a new formula for luxury, driven by advanced technology,” said Don Butler, vice president of Cadillac Marketing. “XTS showcases the evolution of our Art & Science philosophy, merging the best technical ideas with the continued refinement of Cadillac design.”

Cadillac CUE is the highly customizable user interface that exemplifies XTS’ blend of advanced technology and artistic design. The heart of CUE, which stands for Cadillac User Experience, is the standard eight-inch (203 mm) screen in the “center stack,” the faceplate below the screen and the steering wheel controls. CUE features several industry firsts, including capacitive-touch control with proximity sensing, gesture recognition and natural voice recognition.

Available exclusively on the XTS is the 12.3-inch (312 mm) reconfigurable cluster. It features vibrant graphic displays showcased among four driver-selectable themes, ranging from minimal to extensive information. And while it is the prominent element in the XTS’ technological character, CUE is part of a more comprehensive and layered approach to the car’s design, capabilities and performance

“The more you look, the more layers you see in XTS,” said Butler. “They aren’t always apparent to the eye, but they build on one another in important ways to reinforce the car’s strength of design, comfort and driving experience.”

Intervening braking system that lessens or avoids potential collisions

Short- and long-range radar systems that support:

Ø Adaptive Cruise Control

Ø Front and Rear Automatic Brakes

Ø Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

The XTS is also the most-spacious Cadillac sedan, tailored to provide roominess in a more efficiently sized package. It offers more interior space than midsize luxury cars and comparable to full-size sedans, particularly in the rear seat area, where it has 40 inches (1,016 mm) of rear legroom. That’s about four more inches than the BMW 5 Series, and Mercedes-Benz E-Class and about two more inches than the Audi A6 – and comparable to larger sedans.

And when it comes to trunk space, the XTS is in a league of its own, with 18 cubic feet (509 L), exceeding both midsize and full-size competitors – more than Audi A6 and A8L, BMW 5 and 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz E- and S-Class. For XTS customers, the cargo advantage means room for five or more suitcases.

Technology reinforces multidimensional design philosophy

XTS’ hardware and spatial dimensions are the foundational layers that support a new level of surface detail. Multidimensional exterior and interior elements, including the grille, headlamps and new use of accent lighting, coalesce to give the XTS a presence and attention to detail unlike any Cadillac that has come before it.

“The XTS’ technology is woven into its design in ways that affirm the driving experience is of primary importance to a new generation of luxury customers,” said Clay Dean, design director and Cadillac brand champion. “This is the new expression of luxury at Cadillac and it shows in the multilayered details, authentic materials and unprecedented connectivity.”

CUE, for example, represents the pinnacle of technology, but it is being showcased using a subtle and sophisticated interior appearance that blends with other features to create a soothing and inviting feel. It offers more capability and driver-selectable choices than ever before from Cadillac, but the center stack has only seven buttons – four of them for the radio. That’s less than half the controls found on the center stack of the typical car.

“Technology helps the XTS deliver more with less,” said Dean. “Choreographed interior lighting and other unique features tailored to individual driver preferences complement CUE to create an exceptionally refined and advanced ambience.”

The XTS’ surface details also convey a more-nuanced design philosophy, with elements that support the long, sleek proportion that is a welcome return to Cadillac. They bring forward more beauty and elegance with refined, graceful forms and surfaces working harmoniously with established Cadillac linear forms. It is a car that conveys the next step in Cadillac form and surface vocabulary.

“It is a bold, elegant design and also very efficient in the ways it encompasses passengers and cargo,” said Dean. “It’s a new proportion for Cadillac and a new era in luxury.”

The XTS Platinum is the fullest expression of Cadillac’s multidimensional philosophy, with features that include a chrome/satin-chrome grille finish, polished 20-inch aluminum wheels with chrome inserts, a fully wrapped leather interior with Alcantara headliner and more.

Advanced safety features based on ‘control and alert’ strategy

The XTS’ technology fundamentally supports a suite of advanced safety features, based on a “control and alert” strategy that extends the vision around the vehicle. It helps drivers identify potential crash situations and even intervenes when a crash threat appears more imminent, employing layers of visual, audible and tactile (vibration) alerts, depending on the alert feature.

The alerts are designed to identify obstacles with sufficient warning to give the driver time to react and make changes – including the Safety Alert Seat feature, which vibrates either the left or right side of the driver’s seat cushion, depending on the location of the impending concern. The intervening features, including Automatic Collision Preparation, take over if the threat appears more immediate or the driver does not react to previous alerts.

Two levels of control-and-alert protection are offered in the XTS’ Enhanced Safety Strategy (ESS) packages.

ESS I includes:

Lane Departure Warning

Forward Collision Alert

Safety Alert Seat

Side Blind Zone Alert

Rear Cross Traffic Alert

Reflected LED display.

ESS II includes all ESS I content plus:

· Head-up display (in color)

· Front and Rear Automatic Brake

· Adaptive Cruise Control

· Automatic Collision Preparation

XTS also features OnStar as standard. OnStar service also includes myCadillac and OnStar myLink mobile apps, which offer vehicle information and OnStar services via the customer’s smartphone.

AWD and Magnetic Ride Control support new driving experience

A layered approach to the driving experience relies on new and established technologies – all rooted in a stiff structure. The body is infused with strategically placed ultra-high-strength steel for strength and crash protection and serves as the foundation for the advanced-chassis system.

A smart Haldex all-wheel-drive system – with an electronic limited-slip differential that splits torque between the rear wheels – complements an advanced HiPer Strut front suspension and standard Magnetic Ride Control real-time damping to give the XTS sure-footed, confident and comfortable ride and handling traits. A linked H-arm design with “air springs” comprises the rear suspension.

HiPer Strut is based on the MacPherson strut front suspension design and features dual-path top mountings that separate the transfer of spring and damper loads to the body structure. It improves ride-and-handling characteristics in four significant ways:

Provides more linear and communicative steering through improved camber control

Magnetic Ride Control delivers precise body motion control – “reading” the road every millisecond and changing damping in just five milliseconds. It replaces conventional mechanical-valve shocks with electronically controlled shocks filled with a magneto-rheological fluid containing minute iron particles. Under the presence of magnetic charge, the iron particles align to provide damping resistance almost instantly.

StabiliTrak electronic stability control is standard on all models, along with variable-effort steering and Brembo four-wheel disc brakes with four-channel antilock brakes – all features that add important layers of control to the driving experience. Like Magnetic Ride Control, XTS borrows the Brembo braking technology from Cadillac’s V-Series of high performance models.

Horsepower for the XTS comes from an advanced 3.6L V-6 that’s known by its “LFX” engine code. It is rated at an estimated 300 horsepower (224 kW). Lightweight features help reduce overall weight for greater efficiency and a more favorable front-to-rear weight balance. Examples include a composite intake manifold saves approximately 5.5 pounds (2.5 kg) over the weight of a comparable aluminum intake and an integrated cylinder head/exhaust manifold design that saves approximately 13 pounds (6 kg) per engine.

The LFX engine is matched with the Hydra-Matic 6T70 six-speed automatic transmission with tap-shift control.

Share this comment

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Share this comment

Link to comment

Share on other sites

I can see many many options here that are not and will not be available on a Buick for a long time if ever. More suspension, more quiet, more drive line, more technology and just more of many things that Buick can not use based on their price point. This car looks to be some where to being $45K-55K based on the hardware it is using and will be interesting to see what it brings in the reviews. It the media gives it an endorsement it should do well.

I do have an interest in what they have planned for a V model. I did not expect it but I already see the Haldex AWD and matched with the Magna Ride just a Turbo V6 it could make for an suprise for many people.

If they can under cut the price on some of the other cars alittle this could do very well.

Share this comment

Link to comment

Share on other sites

The Lacrosse already handles excellently. Adding magnaride will only improve it further. I just want to see it in person with out the GM photochopping. the pics on twitter today weren't very good quality.

Share on other sites

Share this comment

Link to comment

Share on other sites

I still hate the exterior of the car. GM shown they could've done better.

The interior is quite nice, however. I can understand the changes there versus the "concept" car. Somehow the center IP vents faintly remind me of those I've seen in various vintage GM cars (the first cars I thought of were '80s Fleetwood Broughams).

Share this comment

Link to comment

Share on other sites

While it may not be RWD It is closer to the Equus with the level of advanced equipment and luxury. The Azera is closer to the Lacrosse price and equipment wise.

The Lacrosse already handles excellently. Adding magnaride will only improve it further. I just want to see it in person with out the GM photochopping. the pics on twitter today weren't very good quality.

I noted too the Hyper Struts on all four corners. If I recall they only use them on the front of the Lacrosse?

When you come down to it this may be based on the L:acrosse platform which is not really a bad thing and made up with money better spent on world class parts going into it.

Just off the top we have Magnetic Ride one of the best systems in the world. Hyper Stuts one of the most advanced struts in the world. Haldex AWD system hailed by many as one of the best AWD systems in the world. and it goes on with Brembo brakes standard etc. These additions of parts should dress this car up to be a very good car. We will have to wait to see after a drive and reviews but on paper to this point it looks like they may do well. The size will not be a factor as most all volume luxury cars will get smaller with the looming CAFe. I saw yesterday they were tossing what was it 54.5 MPG?

Share this comment

Link to comment

Share on other sites

The outside is boring, and it looks like it has no rear deck lid, the trunk is like 4% of the car's length. And what is up with the rear door pillar, then a tiny window, then a huge C pillar? And the whole car gives me a Chevy/Buick vibe, because of the shapes and design cues, especially on the dash board. And the height, it is almost 60 inches tall, why are GM and Ford making such tall cars? This car just doesn't say "expensive" or "classy" to me, although it is not as bad a train wreck as the 2013 MKS.

300 hp V6 is nothing special, acceleration will probably be similar to the Deville/DTS. AWD and capless fuel filling is off the Lincoln, we basically have a LaCrosse/MKS blend with magnetic ride control and a digital display (which they don't state if it is LCD, LED, or TFT).

Share this comment

Link to comment

Share on other sites

The outside is boring, and it looks like it has no rear deck lid, the trunk is like 4% of the car's length. And what is up with the rear door pillar, then a tiny window, then a huge C pillar? And the whole car gives me a Chevy/Buick vibe, because of the shapes and design cues, especially on the dash board. And the height, it is almost 60 inches tall, why are GM and Ford making such tall cars? This car just doesn't say "expensive" or "classy" to me, although it is not as bad a train wreck as the 2013 MKS.

300 hp V6 is nothing special, acceleration will probably be similar to the Deville/DTS. AWD and capless fuel filling is off the Lincoln, we basically have a LaCrosse/MKS blend with magnetic ride control and a digital display (which they don't state if it is LCD, LED, or TFT).

This lowers the standard for Cadillac.

In this class not everyone wants a feak of nature. Most want a solid comfortable luxury car. The tall roof adds more space and makes the interior feel more open vs sitting in a bunker like the 300. Fianlly the 300 HP is the base car and will make most buyers in this class happy.

You have to look at this car for the people it is targeted at no yourself. THis is not a car for you but there is a great segment out there that will love it. If Cadillac would make only cars most here on C&G they would be missing a large slice of the market. Many here need to wake up and learn that we are not the majority of buyers here. THis is why cars we do not love lke the Civic and Camry are top sellers. Same applies to the Luxury market, Not everyone wants a 5 series M car. The Luxury market is built on many boring sedans that support the other companies AMG and M series cars the represent only a fraction of their production.

Car companies today need models that reach all buyers in class not just some.

Besides it would be 3 years min before they would get another car out and even then what would it be based on. The flagship will be on the RWD platform and they really have little else to put this segment on.

I think the sales will show GM knows there is a market here and a lot of money to be made. They did ok with a poor old DTS and this car will only improve on that.